The Beginning of the Endless Kashmir Conflict

Dating back to the first armed conflict between India and Pakistan in 1948, the Kashmir region has been a pit of violence and unrest since. On January 1, 1949, a ceasefire was implemented between the two based on orders from the UN Security Council.

Nehru shaking hands with Maharaja Hari Singh of Kashmir, 1948. Source: Frontline - The Hindu

The unresolved tensions between the Indian and Pakistani communities after the trauma of the Partition culminated in the first Indo-Pak War of 1947-48. Also known as the First Kashmir War, the repercussions of this militarised conflict have had ripple effects, which disturb the peace of the state of Kashmir till date.

Right after the two nations were born, a conflict emerged between India and Pakistan regarding the right to sovereignty over the princely state of Kashmir. The king of Kashmir, Maharaja Hari Singh, could not fight off the tribal militants who crossed the border and attacked his state. India agreed to help the king only if the Maharaja agreed to accede Kashmir to the union of India. After the Maharaja and the Indian leaders negotiated the terms of the Instrument of Accession, Kashmir became a part of India. Naturally, this decision did not go down well with the Pakistani leaders who assumed that they had as much of a right over Kashmir as India did. The issue escalated even further, with Pakistani troops entering Kashmir, who were fought off by the Indian army. With no possible compromise being made by either side in the foreseeable future, Nehru referred the violent dispute to the UN Security Council.

The Security Council decided to mediate the conflict – they ordered the Government of Pakistan to retreat from Kashmir, and imposed a ceasefire. The Indian side was also ordered to tone down on their military forces in the region. However, neither side refused to back down first, and the tension stagnated in its peak state instead of lowering back to peace.

The ceasefire between the two was finally implemented on January 1, 1949. Although the Indian side maintains that India emerged victorious because it was able to defend most of the Kashmiri territory against Pakistani troops, the heavy militarization of Kashmir since 1948 till present day, makes one question the worth of this victory. The ceasefire at the Line of Control between what is considered the legitimate boundary between the two nations is violated on a very frequent basis. Sadly, the political dispute over the territoriality of Kashmir has disrupted the peace of the Kashmiri citizens more than all else.